Measuring Your Garments
Measuring your garments before a fitting is an absolutely essential step of apparel development. Especially if you’re working on knit or...
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Rachel Erickson
Mar 3, 20222 min read
Portfolio Profile: Specialized Deflect Outerwear
When I arrived at Specialized in 2016, the team was getting ready to start development of its Fall 2018 outerwear collection. Calling it...
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Rachel Erickson
Mar 1, 20222 min read
Garment vs. Body Measurements
Throughout my career, I’ve encountered several instances where customers ask us for our garment measurements, to understand what size...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 17, 20222 min read
Portfolio Profile: Speed Sleeve Jerseys
It is a super rare occurrence in the apparel industry to have the opportunity to work on a patented garment feature. Patents are...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 15, 20223 min read
Fabric Research Basics
Depending on your level of experience in the apparel industry, searching for fabrics will need to be different from person to person or...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 10, 20222 min read
Portfolio Profile: Denim for the Rodeo
During my time at Miller, International in Denver, our focus was set completely on rodeo-wear. With their core brand CINCH being a...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 8, 20222 min read
Designing to a Target Cost
Once you have a target cost from your product manager, there are several ways to reverse engineer your design into their pricing...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 4, 20222 min read
Portfolio Profile: Fossil Lucy Dress
I have to admit that I mostly created Fossil’s Lucy Dress for myself. It was (and still is) an ideal shape for my body, a great length...
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Rachel Erickson
Feb 1, 20222 min read
Target Costs
Before your team starts designing for a new set of product proposals, they should be aware of various costing requirements for each...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 27, 20223 min read
Portfolio Profile: ANF Trench Coat
The women’s Trench Coat that I helped to create for Abercrombie & Fitch in 2009 was my first introduction to creative pattern...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 25, 20224 min read
Writing a Design Brief
If you are a member of an apparel team or company, you may not be doing all of the design work on your own. Most apparel companies will...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 20, 20222 min read
Portfolio Profile: Sewing Background
I first learned to sew when I was seven years old. My mom took us to the art store, where my little sister and I picked out these...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 18, 20223 min read
Color Palettes
The colors chosen for your apparel line can help to evoke an emotional connection between you and your target consumers. Color has the...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 13, 20223 min read
Portfolio Profile: Specialized SL Race Jerseys
When I arrived at Specialized in 2016, it was a huge priority to improve the fit of their cycling apparel line. At the time, being hired...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 11, 20223 min read
Creating a Mood Board
Putting together a mood board for your designs will help you to pull together the color palette, early fabric options and inspiration for...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 8, 20224 min read
Portfolio Profile: The Emma Jeans
I was once told that I would never become a pattern maker. I was told it was a dying art that would fade away from existence, and there...
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Rachel Erickson
Jan 4, 20223 min read
Croquis Sketch Ideations
Your line plan is all put together. You have a budget. You’ve completed research on your competitors, current trends and your target...
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Rachel Erickson
Dec 28, 20213 min read
Fashion Trend Forecasting
Trend forecasting services could help to round out and finalize your research phase of development. I like to use them to help with final...
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Rachel Erickson
Dec 21, 20214 min read
Defining Your Customer
Throughout the apparel industry, each company is focused on a specific group or ideal person to design and develop for. Some brands do...
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Rachel Erickson
Dec 10, 20212 min read
Portfolio Profile: ANF Leather Moto Jacket
A project that holds a truly special place in my heart is the Leather Moto Jacket I helped to develop for Abercrombie & Fitch’s women’s...
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